Releasable strike mechanism



A ril 28, 1953 A. H. GROEGER 2,636,767

RELEASABLE STRIKE MECHANISM Filed June 25, 1948 s Shets-Sheet 1 43 x T 1! ll 1 l 58 -4 up?) U" '66 28 Ha FIG.2

INVENTOR.

.Al. FRED GROEGH? A fro/81v: Y

April 28, 1953 A. H. GROEGER 2,636,767

RELEASABLE STRIKE MECHANISM Filed June 23, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. ALF/Q50 f1. GROfGfR Sometimes a nail is inserted into the registering openings in the ears 2Il22 looking a person inside the refrigerator or cabinet or enclosure so that the lock cannot be opened from the inside. In accordance with the present invention, the strike I4 is so constructed and mounted as to permit the strike to be pushed out of place from the inside of the refrigerator or cabinet to permit the door to be pushed open from the inside to release a person trapped within the refrigerator or cabinet. To this end the strike I4 comprises a strike housing 25 having a bottom plate portion 26 contacting the outer surfaces Ila of the door jamb II. The plate 25 has upwardly and downwardly extending ears 2'! formed with integral pins 28 projecting in the openings 25 in the door jai -b H formed to receive said pins. The strike housing 25 is formed with side walls 32 and a rear wall 33. The side walls 32 are formed with inwardly extending parallel ribs 34. and said ribs have horizontal flanges 36 spaced from a bottom wall or web 37 which interconnects the side and rear walls and contacts surface I Ia of the door ,iamb II. Slidably mounted on the housing 25 is a member 48 formed with parallel grooves ll to receive the ribs 34. Said member 40 has a pair of pro ectin apertured ears 42, and thereon-is carried a roller 43 adapted to be en aged by the tongue of the latch I3. Member 40 is formed with an internally screw threaded opening 58 to receive the threaded shank of a screw 58. The screw 55 has a knurled wheel disposed between the flanges 35 and wall 3" so that rotation of the wheel 5| will ad ust the position of member 45 on the strike housing. The constr ction of member 40 and the strike ho sing is well known except that heretofore t e strike housings have been fixed to the door .iamb by screws whereas in the pres nt case the strike hous ng is formed with the pins 28 received in the openin s 25 in the dOOr jamb for the purpose hereinafter appearmg.

In accordance with the present invention. the door jamb II is formed with a through opening 55, preferably cylindrical or t 'bular in shape. Extending from the surface of the housing which contacts surface Ila is an internally screw threaded boss 55, which proects into the open ing 55 in the door amb. The boss 55 may be coaxial with the screw 55. Screwed within the internally threaded opening in the boss 56 is a bolt 51 having a head 58 at its outer end. The shank of the bolt 51 extends entirely through the opening 55 and therebeyond.

Contacting the inner surface III) of the door jamb is a plate 50 attached to said surface by means of corner screws 5|. The plate to is formed with suitable countersunk screw threaded openings 62 to receive the screws 6i. Plate 55 is formed furthermore with a central opening 53 registering with the through opening 55 of the door jamb and substantially of the same diameter. Plate 60 is furthermore formed with a through opening 65 disposed below the opening 53 and preferably in vertical alignment therewith.

Pivoted to the plate 60 is a releasable locking level member for holding the strike firmly clamped to the door ,iamb. Said member is designated by numeral 66 in the drawing and comprises a hook-shaped portion 51 formed with a notch 68 to engage the shank of the bolt 51. Washer 69 may be interposed between the head 58 of the bolt and the hook portion 61 member Said member 66 is provided with a pin it projecting into the opening 55 of plate 651 to serve as a fulcrum for member 66, the latter being in the form of a lever as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing. The lever 66 is formed with a downwardly extending inwardly offsetting handle I2. The head 58 of the bolt, as well as the washer 69, are of such dimension that they may readily pass through the opening 53 in plate Gil and opening 55 in door jamb. When the strike is in operative position as shown in full lines of Fig. 3, the lever 66 retains the strike firmly clamped against the door jamb with the pins 28 received within openings 29 so that the strike cannot rotate.

Should a person be locked within the cabinet or refrigerator, he may release himself by merely turning the handle I2 in a counterclockwise direction, looking at Fig. 3, disengaging the hook portion 61 from the bolt. The bolt may then merely be pushed to the right, looking at Fig. 2, loosening the strike from the door jamb, so that the door can be opened by merely pushing it outwardly from the inside. It will be noted that the releasing manipulation is extremely simple, requiring only turning of the handle I2 and pushing outwardly on the bolt head 58.

Aflixed to plate 60 is a stop pin 65a to limit rotary movement of the lever 66 in a counterclockwise direction looking at Fig. 3 of the draw- In Figs. 5 and 6 there is shown a modified form of the invention. In the modified form of the invention the strike I2 and lock I3 are exactly the same as in Figs. 1 to 4. The door jarnb I! is like ise formed with a through opening 55 through which the bolt 51 passes. The bolt is also provided with a head 58. Attached to the inner surface III) of the door lamb, however, is a plate 80. Plate is formed with suitable openin s through which may pass screws 8| which attach said plate to the door ,iamb. The plate Bil is furthermore formed with an axial through opening 82 through which the shank 57 of the bolt passes. Interposed between the head 58 of the bolt and plate 80 is a washer 83. The plate 80 is furthermore formed at its inner surface with a rad al slot 84 which extends from the central opening upwardly. Inserted into the slot 84 is the lower end of a Wrench 85. The wrench B5 is formed with the wrench opening 85 adapted to receive the head 58. The upper end of the wrench proiects above plate 8!]. Thus if a person is trapped in the refrigerator, he may remove the wrench 85, engage the head 58 and unscrew the bolt 51. The door may then be pushed outwardly and the strike will merely fall out of place as it will not be attached to the door jamb once the bolt 51 is unscrewed.

In Figs. '7 and 8 there is shown a safety lock construction IBa embodying the invention and illustrating a modified construction.

In Figs. 7 and 8 the door jamb II is formed with a through opening 55. Attached to the inside of the door jamb is plate 65, similar to the plate shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The plate 65 likewise has a through opening 63 registering with the opening 55. Plate 50 is attached to the door jarnb II by means of the screws 6|.

Attached to the outside of the door jamb II is a strike or keeper 90. The same comprises a keeper housing 9I,'shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The housing 9I comprises a flange 52 contacting the outer surface of the door jamb, and the same is formed with countersunk openings 93 aoa m to receive screws 94 for attaching ithe housing to the door *janib. The housing ii -l is Frurthermore "formed with 'aparallel side walls "95 'and "a back wall 95. The side walls 95 are {formed with parallel ribs 9! "at their inner sides. Siidably mounted within the housing and between the sidewalls 95 is a slidably mounted member 98 formed with parallel grooves 9'9 to receive the ribs 91. Member 93 is formed with parallel ears Hill carrying a transverse shaft on which is mounteda strike roller WI adapted 'tobe 'engaged by the 'latch 48 -on the door lock. Member 98 'is'formed with a-centra l screw threadedopening I02 its inner side. The housing "9 *is formed with a bottom wall 153 contacting "the outer surface of the door jamb. wan ll-'3 is formed with 'acentra' l throughopening IEM. Extending through openings 63 and 55 is the-shai-ik Hi5 of a bolt or stud W5 having a head il ll l :at its outer side. inner end of the shank T05 is screwed into the "opening 562.. The "shank 1'05 passes through opening 4 M in wall 103.

Pivoted to plate do on pivot pin m "is a lever to similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The book 6'! of the lever engages between the head [0! of the stud and plate -68. The washer l ll may be interposed between the head :10! and the upper end of the dever Fi l. interposed *between plate 183 and member 93 are one "or more washers or shims H2. washers or shims are used so as to locate "the roller 191 in desired position.

It will now be understood that w-hen the lover 66 is rotated in a position for disengaging stud Hit, said stud may be thro openings 53 55 so that the stud t their with member are pushed forwardly in the dot-dash line pos-itionshown in Fig. 57, i-hereby permitting the door to open without retracting the latch it or pulling "backthe handle l8.

It will be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the condition of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter set dorth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative andnoft in a limiting sense. i

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to claim by Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a strike comprising a strike housing and a latch engaging strike member adjustably mounted on the housing, said housing being adapted to contact the outer side of a door jamb, a bolt screwed to the strike housing and adapted to pass through said jamb and provided with a head, a plate adapted to be fixed to the inside of the door jamb and having an opening, a lever pivoted to said plate and formed with a hook engaging the shank of the bolt so as to be disposed between the head of the bolt and said plate, and a handle on said lever whereby the lever may be rotated to disengage the hook from the bolt and means to adjust said latch engaging member relative to said housing independently of said bolt.

2. In combination, a strike adapted to contact the outer side of a door jamb, a bolt screwed to the strike and adapted to pass through said jamb and provided with a head, a plate adapted to be fixed to the inside of the door jamb and having an opening, a lever pivoted to said plate proper sized andnonned*nfith a?ihookwengaging tiresome-er the bolt so as to be idisposed ibetween ithe head of the boltan'dsaid lplate,-and-ta'i'handle on :eali'd lever whereby Jth'e" l'e-ver it may be rritated to di engage "the mook rrom ithe bolt, and said strli-ke being formed wi th means adapted to project into spaced openings in the door jamb to prevent rotation of the trike relative to the door jamb.

I '3. 12m oombinationa strike adapted to contact the outer sneer door ams formed with a through opening, -a plate -'means to attach said plate tolthe i-nsi deof the door'ijamb and said pla tebeing donned 'wi'th an opening a'dapted to register with said through opening, a member connected to the strike and '=a'dapted ts pass through said "through-open 'g and through the opening in said plate, afid means *to release-lily engage said member to-r detaining the strike a'gains't sa'i'd door damh said engag-l being =lzlisengageabl'e"from the inside dr the door jambto release the strike prom ftne ii-ocr Jame.

4. In combination, .:a strike d ted co oon taotithe outside of 'a door jams; plate adapted to betatta'ched to the inside of the idoor" janrb, a member son said strike and adapted to pass thrcughwsaidmdoor i'amb, land through plate, meanscon said'fplate ror reieasably clamping said strike to. said door saidiclampin'g means being releasable from theinside'o'f the door jam'b, andzmeans to prerentirotation of said strike relatime no rsaid door iamb.

'5. In iC'Om-biHQi'biOH, a strike -a bolt screwed to said strike, a plate having an opening through which 'saidbolt passes, a lever pivoted to said platoon anaxis offset from the bolt, andhavi-n'g a hook. engaging saidboltsto t alamp 'sfitid strike relative to said plate.

6. Kai-combination, a strik'e, a bolts'crewed to said v 'strike, la plate having an opening throu'gh which said bolt passes, a lever pivoted "to said plate on an axis offset from the' =bolt,"-and having a (hook engaging said bait "to clamp said "strike relative 'to said plate, "and a pin en and strike onset .Zfrom "said bolt to-prevent rotation of said Strike.

il n combination, a strike, a bolt screwed *to said strike, a plate having an opening through which s'aid bolt 'passes, a 'leve'r pivoted to said plate-on an axi'soffset "fromthe 'b'ol't'and having a "hook engaging said bolt to clamp said strike relative *to saidplate, said lever having a handle adapted to -be grasped' for turning said lever.

8. In combination, a strike, a bolt screwed to said strike, a plate having an opening through which said bolt passes, a lever pivoted to said plate on an axis offset from the bolt and spaced below the bolt, and having a hook engaging said bolt to clamp said strike relative to said plate, said lever having a downwardly extending handle adapted to be grasped for turning said lever, said strike being formed with a pair of pins ofiset from the bolt.

9. In combination, a strike adapted to contact one side of a door jamb, a member on said strike and adapted to pass through an opening in said door jamb, a plate adapted to contact the other side of the door jamb and having a through opening to receive said member, and means to clamp said member to said plate, said means being releasable'from the plate side of the door jamb.

10. In combination, a strike comprising a strike housing, means to affix the strike housing to a door jamb, a latch engaging strike member on said housing, a bolt loosely passing through said housing and screwed to said member, a plate having an opening through which said bolt passes, a lever pivoted to said plate on an axis offset from the bolt, said lever being provided with means to engage the bolt in one position thereof and to release said bolt in another position thereto. I

11. In combination, a strike housing adapted to be fixed to the outer side of a door jamb, a latch engaging strike member slidably mounted in said housing and formed with a screw threaded opening, a plate adapted to be fixed to the inner side of the door jamb and formed with an opening, and a lever pivoted to said plate and provided with a hook at one end and a handle at the other end, a bolt having a shank passing through the opening in the plate and adapted to pass through the door jamb and being screwed to the threaded opening in said strike member, and the hook end of the lever being engageable between the head of the bolt and said plate, said bolt loosely passing through said housing.

12. In combination, a strike housing adapted to be fixed to the outer side of a door jamb, a latch engaging strike member slidably mounted in said housing and formed with a screw threaded opening, a plate adapted to be fixed to the inner side of the door jamb and formed with an opening, and a lever pivoted to said plate and provided With a hook at one end and a handle at the other end, a bolt having a shank passing through the opening in the plate and the opening in the door jamb and being screwed to the threaded opening in said strike member, and the hook end of the lever being engageable between the head of the bolt and said plate, said strike housing having a bottom wall contacting the outer surface of the door jamb through which said shank loosely passes, and a washer interposed between said wall of said housing and said strike member.

13. In combination a strike adapted to be placed against the outer sideof the door jamb, a bolt screwed to the strike and adapted to extend through an opening in said door jamb, a head on said bolt adapted to be located at the inside of the door jamb, a plate adapted to be fixed to the inside of the door jamb, a lever pivoted to said plate and located at the inside of the door jamb and formed with a hook engaging the head of the bolt for retaining said strike against the door jamb, and said lever being ro- 8 tatable to disengage said hook from said head to release the bolt so that the bolt and the strike may be pushed out of place with respect to the door jamb.

14. In combination a strike adapted to be placed against the outer side of the door jamb formed with an opening, said strike having an internally threaded sleeve projecting into said opening, a bolt adapted to extend through the opening in said door jamb and screwed to the sleeve, a head on said bolt adapted to be located at the inside of the door jamb, a plate adapted to be fixed to the inside of the door jamb, a lever pivoted to said plate and located at the inside of the door jamb and formed with a hook engaging the head of the bolt for retaining said strike against the door jamb, and said lever being rotatable to disengage said hook from said head to release the bolt so that the bolt and the strike may be pushed out of place with respect to the door jamb, said plate being formed with an opening and said bolt passing through said opening in said plate.

15. In combination a strike adapted to be placed against the outer side of the door jamb, a bolt screwed to the strike and adapted to extend through an opening in said door jamb, a head on said bolt adapted to be located at the inside of the door jamb, a plate adapted to be fixed to the inside of the door jamb, a lever pivoted to said plate and located at the inside of the door jamb and formed with a hook engaging the head of the bolt for retaining said strike against the door jamb, and said lever being rotatable to disengage said hook from said head to release the bolt so that the bolt and the strike may be pushed out of place with respect to the door jamb, said plate being formed with an opening and said bolt passing through said opening in said plate, said opening being large enough to permit said head to pass therethrough when said hook is disengaged therefrom.

ALFRED H. GROEGER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,294,406 Corbett Feb. 18, 1919 2,089,163 Hansen Aug. 3, 1937 2,250,447 Dwyer July 29, 1941 

